Gate latch



June 18, 1929; I J, w, ROADCAP GATE LATCH I Filed Jan. 24,-1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Inventor Jacob W Roadca;

June 18, 1929. .1. w. ROADCAP 1.718.079

- GATE LATCH Filed Jan. 24, 1928 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor rfcob W Beaded Attomqy June 18, 1929. J. w. ROADCAP GATE LATCH Filed Jan. 24, 1928 3 SheetsSheet Inventor Jacob W. Hoadcap Mao/k2 Attornqy Y Patented June 18, 1929.

. UNITED STATES JACOB W. ROADCAP, OF RICHMOND, MISSOURI.

GATE LATCH.

Application filed January 24, 1928. Serial No. 249,048,

The present invention relates to gates and has for its principal object to provide a structure of this character normally secured 1n closed position and adapted to be released so as to permit the opening thereof upon con,- tact of a portion of thegate with an object moving against the same.

A further object of the invention is to ,provide guard means mounted .at each side of the gate and disposed vertically at a suitable height whereby to contact with the mud guard of an automobile during the openlng and closing movement of the gate whereby to prevent the gate structure from engaging the wheels of the vehicle and thus avoid injury to the wheels or the gate during such contact while the gate is being moved into its open or closed position.

A still further object is to provide an apparatusof this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain in operative position and otherwise well adapted to the purposes for which the same is intended, ,7

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements comprising the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the gate shown in closed position,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a line 3 3 of Fig ure 1 Figure 4 is'a fragmentary perspective View of one of the latch operating boards,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the latch member,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the latch keeper,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the gate hinged members,

Figure 8 is a transverse Sectional view through one of the guards carried by the gate and Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view therethrough taken substantially along a line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I propose a gate structure of conventional type and illustrated generally at 5 and mounted for horizontal swinging movement upon a gate post 6 by means of hinge members 7.

to fit over the upturned end 10 of a horizontally disposed rod 11 inserted transversely through the gate post 6. The gate is preferably hung in a manner so as to permit its free end thereof to incline slightly downwardly so as to cause the gate to swing into its closed position through the action of gravity.

Adjacent the free end of the gate is placed a gate post 12 and to which is pivotally attached a pair of latch dogs or keepers 13 disposed in spaced parallel relation and normally maintain in a vertical position by means of a coil spring 14 connecting the lower end thereof. A stop lock 15 is arranged for engagement with the lower end of each of the dogs 13 oper ating to prevent the outward swinging move ment of the upper ends of the dogs in a direction away from each other.

A latch member 16 is pivotally mounted on the gate disposed longitudinally with respect thereto and with its free end protruding outwardly beyond the free end of the gate as in dicated at 17 invFigure 5 of the drawing and suitably mounted for engagement with the dogs 13 whereby to normally secure the gate in closed position.

At each side of the gate is horizontally disposed board 18 having its upper edge arranged immediately below the horizontal plane of the latch 16 and provided with a pair of hinge members 19 for hingedly connecting the upper edge of said board to the gate. To

the inner face of each of said boards is secured the latch operating arm 20 having its upper end indicated at 21 extending beyond the upper edge of the board and extending at an inclined angle immediately beneath the latch member in a direction transversely with respect thereto. To the upper end of the arm 20 is attached the coil spring 22 and extending downwardly with its lower end secured to a stationary part of the gate and maintain under sufiicient tension so as to cause the lower free edge of the board to normally extend outwardly at an inclined angle away from the side of the gate.

From an inspection of Figure 3 of the drawing it will be observed that with the part arranged in the manner indicated the upper end 21 of the latch operating arm is normally disposed at a substantially horizontal plane beneath the latch member 16 so that upon downward swinging movement of the board 18 the latch member will be raised upwardly and its end 17 removed from engagement with the dog 13.

It will be apparent that upon movement of the trip board 18 in a direction toward the gate, as for instance by the contact of the trip board with a vehicle, the latch will .beraised and the gate opened. The trip boards 18 are preferably disposed at a suitable height above the ground to permit engagement thereof with the front wheels of a vehicle, but may be engaged by a part of the vehicle extending forwardly beyond the wheels'thereof. The trip boards 18 may also be operated by means of a vertically disposed rod 23 hingedly connected as at 24 to the gate at its upper end and with its lower end resting against the outer surface of the trip board. Thus upon contact of the rod 23 with a part of the vehicle as forinstance the bumper thereof, the trip board may in this manner be moved inwardly against the gate for operating the latch.

Adjacent the free end of the gate, at each side thereof, is arranged a vertically disposed drum 25 having a shaft 26 extending therethrough with its upper and lower end rotatably supported in brackets 27 carried by the gate. As more clearly illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, the drums are constructed of solid end sections 28 and a similar intermediate section 29 upon the edges of which is secured in any suitable manner a series of flaps 30. After the latch member 16 has been raised to release the gate the gate is then forced open by the vehicle and it will be apparent that during the opening movement the side of the vehicle is apt to brush against the gate as the vehicle moves past the same. For this reason the drums 25 are disposed at a suitable position to permit contact thereof with the mud guard of the vehicle and thus prevent injury to the wheels of the vehicle or to the gate during such brushing action.

The latch string 31 is also attached to the latch member 16 enabling the latch to be raised by pulling upwardly on the latch string, thereby enabling the gate to be released for opening movement by persons walking or on horseback.

Along the lower edge of the trip board 18 is arranged a series of spikes 32 to prevent animals from brooding under the trip board and accidentally releasing the latch member.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I I claim as new 1s:

In a gate latch operating device of the class described, a vertically movable latch member carried by the gate, a pair of trip boards disposed at a horizontal plane at opposite sides of the gate and hingedly connected thereto along their upper edges, a lifting arm attached to each of said boards with one end extending beyond the upper edge of the board and disposed transversely beneath the latch member, aspring attached to the upper end of each arm yieldably connecting the'same to the gate whereby to normally maintain the lower edges of the boards in outwardly inclined position, the upper end of said arms being arranged for engagement with the latch whereby to causethe upward movement of the latch upon the inward movement of the lower edge of either of said boards, and an operating rod for each of said trip boards disposed at opposite sides of the gate, each having one end hingedly connected to the gate with their opposite ends extending downwardly and disposed against the outer surfaces of the boards and adapted to cause the inward movement of the respective boards by contact therewith of an object approaching the gate above the board.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JACOB W. ROADCAP. 

